Year 12 students would have to sit longer exams for creative arts subjects as part of a syllabus overhaul that drama and music teachers have criticised as being too focused on theory.
The proposed new exam requirements include doubling examination time for students studying Music 1, while externally assessed performances would have less weighting on a student’s final mark.
HSC drama students at Brigidine College St Ives with head of drama DiAnne McDonald.Credit: Janie Barrett
The changes were released by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) last month for consultation until December and are part of its much-touted “once-in-a-generation” curriculum overhaul.
The development comes after authorities slashed the importance of the creative writing major work in English Extension 2 and introduced an exam in that subject.
The proposal for HSC drama includes scrapping the ensemble group performance marked by external examiners, now contributing 30 per cent of the HSC exam mark. Instead, students would sit a 30-minute longer exam.
Former HSC drama chief examiner and Brigidine College St Ives head drama teacher DiAnne McDonald said students could do the entire course without any performance being externally assessed. She planned to write to Education Minister Prue Car asking her to stop the changes.
“It is saying, ‘We’re valuing the fact we can write about drama rather than actually doing it’,” she said.
For electives such as stage and costume design, students would submit a computer file with images depicting projects rather than a physical example.
“Our big concern is that it is changing the culture of what these performing arts subjects are,” McDonald said.
University of Sydney drama education expert Professor Michael Anderson said his research had shown the power of performance to build collaboration, creativity and communication skills.
“It encourages creativity and allows students to craft their own work in their own voices,” he said. “Tragically, opportunities for the creative student voice in education are becoming a rare thing.”
Professor Michael Anderson says he quit his post after the draft curriculum failed to take on board teacher and expert feedback.Credit: Adam Hollingworth
Anderson was engaged by NESA to consult on the curriculum but quit his post after the draft syllabus disregarded teacher and expert feedback.
“This is profoundly disappointing and undermines my faith in NESA’s process,” he said in his resignation letter.
The Music 1 syllabus changes would double the theory exam time from one to two hours. Contemporary music study would be mandated while the 22 other topics – including medieval music – would be cut back.
Australian Society for Music Education NSW chair Debra Batley said the current course gave teachers and students options.
“Saying you must perform music of contemporary form is like going to visual art and saying everyone has to do an oil painting this year. That’s how restrictive this change is,” Batley said.
“I can’t see how removing choice and dictating repertoire styles really reflects real-world practice in music or helps hone students’ practical skills in what is essentially a practical subject.”
A NESA spokeswoman said: “Public consultation is a vital pillar of curriculum reform and we welcome feedback on the draft syllabuses and, in this case, draft assessment requirements.”
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